Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-07-28
ETERNAL GRATITUDE.

This affair has gone far enough,
Susan. Godfrey HERMAN is not the
proper person to be my daughters
constant escort, and I'll have no more
Of it," said James Raymond to his
pretty daughter, who stood gazing
after the receding form of a young
man who had just left the house.
Susie turned away without word;
but angry, resentful feelings filled her
heart as she thought:
There's nobody like Phil Williams
in fathers estimation, and he can't see
any good in anyone else"
SO far, she had been a dutiful and
obedient daughter; but she was sew
enteen now, and she at once decided
that this was her own affair, and if
she loved Godfrey, it wasn't necessary
that he should be adOred by the whole
family. They would not be obliged
to live with him if she should marry
him
She managed to send a note to her
lover, informing him of her fathers
opposition, and counselling him to
wait until a better acquaintance should
give the impetuOus old gentlemen a
more exalted opinion Of the man of
her choice.
But Mr. Herman had less faith in
the result of better acquaintance;
and besides, he reflected that even
Susie's maturer Judgment might not
confirm her girlish opinion, and he
had worldly wisdom enough to know
that his only chance was in completing
the bargain at once.
And SO there was 4 clandestine
meeting, and few evenings later
carriage stopped short distance from
Mr. Raymond's dwelling; and toward
midnight the notes of an owl, three
times repeated, tloated softly up from
among the trees in the orchard, while
with 4 nerYously-beating heart, Susie
stood listening by the open window.
Yes, there it was again-repeated at
an interval of thirty seconds-and for
a single instant light flashed from
the window, as signal that the coast
was clear; and then, dimly visible
through the doubtful starlight, she
deserted the form of her lover emerg-
ing from among the trees.
She trembled with apprehension,
Nearer came the approaching form,
and a ladder was firmly placed against
the windowsin. Trembling like leaf,
but undaunted and determined, she
descended to her anxious lover.
''Make haste, my darling!" urged
her lover, clasping her hand, and
starting toward the path leading out
through the orchard; but sas they
turned the corner of the house, most
unexpected sight was presented to
their view.
There, within ten feet of the rum
Always, stood her father, with huge
feather-bed clasped in his arms; and
closely following came the mother car
rying a couple of portly pillows, and
directly after her came Annie, with
her arms full of blankets and bed
quilts, while brother Tom brought up
the rear, supporting washtub upon
his shoulder with one hand, and carry
ing an old tin tea-kettle in the other.
Just wait a moment, daughter"
said the father, pleasantly. ''You
came near forgetting your bridal out
fit, and no child of mine shall ever 90
destitute from the parental roof.
Here, young man, just lend hand,
will you? This feather-bed seems
monstrous heavy, someway."
Just take the side this, tub will YOU,
Luke, and help me to carry it out to your
vehicles" said Tom, elbowing his way
past the feather bed and setting the
tub down in the path at the feet of the
astonished pair.
''And here's the identical pillow that
I've been saving for you for the last
five years. If i had a thousand daugh-
tiers, I'd make pillows for them ALL"
said the mother, pressing forward and
reaching them toward her.
Poor Susie! Thevery ground seemed
sinking beneath her feet, and the shock
of an earthquake could scarcely have
carried the CONSERVATION to her heart
that she felt at that moment.
Tears of shame and veNation came
yelling up to her eyes for brief in
terval; but the case was desperate, and
it was second edition of her fathers
own will that asserted itself a moment
after.
Summoning all her courage, she de-
termined to stand by her lover at all
hazards and SO to proclaim, if she
must suffer INSULT humiliation, and
abuse for his sake, they could just pile
1t up; Dut she would marry nm, ana
him only, if it was for twenty years to
come, and she would just tell them so,
then and there.
She turned to him for support and
encouragement in this defiant declara-
ton; but he had fled, and left her to
meet the storm alone.
Poor girl! She was willing to brave
whirlwind and tempest, to walk through
fire, if need be, for his sake; but cow
ardly desertion in the hour of severest
trial was too much. All the brave,
defiant spirit died out, feeling of ut
ter helplessness came over her, and
the sudden revulsion caused dizzy
faintness to creep through her heart